Statistical machine



Sept. 1, 1342. J. w. BRYCE STATISTICAL MACHINE Original Filed May 11,1938 6 Sheets-Sheet l 0 m m "w, m m n n m C O O I I .I/ O. Q 2 o awmmflw m T 3 W 5 i m/ I. my 2 w n v a NY. m TN. R K T C 8m M A W W m;INN m D- u J r imh INVENTO ATTO R N EY Sept. 1, 1942. J. w. BRYCESTATISTICAL MACHINE Original Filed May 11, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR ATTbRNEY Sept. 1, 1942. J. W. BRYCE STATISTICAL MACHINEOriginal Filed May 11, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNwTOR BY I .ATT'ORNEY p J.w. BRYCE STATISTICAL MACHINE Original Filed May 11, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet4 PEG.

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INVENTOR ATTO R N EY J. W. BRYCE STATISTICAL MACHINE Sept 1, 1942.

' ATTORNEY INVENTOR m. m. w

Sept. 1, 1942. J w BRYCE 2,294,734

STATISTICAL MACHINE Original Filed May 11, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 fit 0INVENT R Patented Sept. 1, 1942 STATISTICAL MACHINE James W. Bryce, GlenRidge, N. J., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation,New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application May 11,1938, Serial No. 207,281. Divided and this application March 6, 1941,Serial No. 381,939

4 Claims.

This invention relates to record controlled statistical machines, and isa division of the copending application Serial No. 207,281, filed May11, 1938.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of improvedmeans for modifying the operations of the record feeding means upondisagreement of the classification data on successive records.

To this end, provision is made whereby photographic film records arepresented to a single sensing station to modify light rays in accordancewith the disposition of the data designations, which modified lightrays, in turn, control the conditioning of light responsive meansaccordingly. Suitable storing means are provided for storing, eachcycle, the data sensed on successive records. The said sensing andstoring means are effective, jointly, for selectively controlling theconductivity of electron discharge means in accordance with therelationship of the compared classification data on successive records,which discharge means, in turn, are effective to control the operationsof the record feeding means.

Accordingly, another object of the present invention resides in theprovision of electron discharge means which arejolntly controlled by thedata sensing and storing means for controlling the conductivity thereof,and, in turn, the operations of the record feeding means.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which 7 disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention andthe best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents an enlarged view of a fragmentary section of atransparent photographic film controlling element of a statisticalmachine;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show diagrammatically the control units of thestatistical machine when arranged as shown in Fig. 8 and wherein Fig. 2shows the film control record advancing means and sensing means, Fig. 3shows the data accumulating means and Fig. 4 shows the data recordingunit.

Fig. 5 shows a circuit arrangement of the electronic control deviceemployed in the present invention; I

Fig. 6 shows graphically different output cur rent values provided bythe electronic device for particular values of voltage conditionsimpressed upon the control grid element of the device;

and Control record The control record, embodied in the present inventionis disclosed and described in detail in U. S. Patent No. 2,124,906, andreferring to Fig. 1, herein, is shown to comprise a photographic filmrecord I99 having the usual feed apertures 200, a photographic facsimilerepresentation of a document, such as a bank check, indicated by thereference character 20!, and the data designations in the form ofcontrol spots 202 and 203.

The data designations 202 and 203 arephotographic machine control spotrepresentations, and each set of numerical data comprises one or morecontrol spots in such relative position upon the film record as torepresent, by their relative position thereon, the numerical controlvalue thereof. In practice and according to the embodiment shown, thecontrol spots are shown on the film, in index point relation, in generalconformance with the manner in which index perforations are disposed onperforated record cards in the Hollerith accounting system. That is, thedifferential position of a control spot delineates the numerical valueof a particular numeral. In Fig. 1, the data represented by controlspots 202 may be indicative of certain classification data, and can beused to represent a date, or a depositors number, or the like. The datarepresented by the control spots 203 may indicate an amount, and forillustrative purposes, theseamount designations represent the amountsindicated in the related facsimile documents 2!.

It will be understood, that the completed film I has photographicreproductions thereon at successively spaced intervals along the film,as

shown, accordingly, 2. large quantity of statisticalfuformatlon can beplaced on an extremely small controlling record.

Film advancing and data sensing means In Fig. 2, the-film record I99 isshown disposed on a supply reel 2l5 and attached to a driven take-upreel 2H3. The film is advanced through the agency of the motor 2H, bymeans of the driving connections generally designated 218 and 2l9. Thedriving connections 2!!! are secured to the shafts 22!] and 22! whichhave suitable advancing sprockets 222 disposed thereon, and which extendthrough the apertures 20!! of the film to cooperate with thecomplementary rollers 223. A flexible driving connection is providedbetween shaft 22! and the take-up reel 2l6 gen erally designated 224. Itis seen now that by means of the described driving mechanism the filmrecord may be advanced so as to be fed through the guide plates 225 topresent the different data representations thereon to a sensing positiongenerally designated 226 where the representations are analyzed in thefollowing manner.

The rays of light emanating from the light source 2!!! are directed uponthe film record I99 at the sensing position 226 by means of a suitablecondenser 221. The guide plates 225 extend across the entire width ofthe film and are disposed on both sides thereof. Each of the said platesis provided with a series of apertures 226--a disposed in a transverseline with respect to the film. The apertures are so spaced as to bedisposed opposite the individual rows where control spots may appearupon the film record, and are of such dimensions so as to besubstantially the same as the control spots. As sociated with the filmrecord and in close proximity thereto are suitably disposed a pluralityof lightconducting quartz rods 228 which extend individually to thelight responsive devices or cells 2!!. The said rods are positioned sothat a rod may be provided for each row of control spots disposed on thefilm, and are arranged so as to extend into the apertures 226-a providedin the associated guide plate 225.

Consequently, when there are no control spots V interposed between thelight source and the light responsive devices or stated in other words,when no control spots are presented to the sensing station or aperturesin the guide plates, the raysv of light are conducted by each rod to thecor- 1 responding light responsive devices to afiect the devices in adefinite manner. ever a control spot or group of control spots However,when-I are presented to the sensing station, the said operation of thecontrol circuits associated with the. light responsive devices will bedescribed hereinafter.

Different control devices associated with and forming part of the filmadvancing means will now be described. A film feed clutch magnet 229(Fig. 2) is provided to'control the feeding or advancing of the filmrecord. Suitably secured to the armature 230 of the said magnet is astop lever 23! adapted to cooperate with an extension of a pivoted dogmember 232 which is mounted on one of the gears of the drivingconnections designated MS as shown in the figure. The said dog memberwhen released (upon energization of the magnet 229) cooperates with theclutch member 233 secured to sleeve 234, which sleeve is secured to theupper and associated gearof the driving connections designated 2! (Fig.3). The said gear sleeve and clutch member are rotatably supported onshaft 22! of the accumulator.

and rotated continuously as long as the motor 2!! is operated. Uponenergization of the control magnet 229 the dog 232 is released by thedisplaced stop lever 23!, to engage the clutch member 233 therebyrotating the shafts 220 and 22! in unison with the clutch member, bymeans of the gearing 2l9. Rotation of the said shafts is now effectiveto advance the film record I99 from the supply reel M5 to the driventake-up reel 2i6. Cams 235 and 23B are provided and secured to shaft 220to control the operation of suitably disposed cam operated contacts FC-!and FC2 respectively. An additional cam member 23'! is provided andsecured to the said shaft to operate the associated controlled contactsG l. The said cam member is provided with a plurality of suitablecamming surfaces capable of operating the said associated contacts eachtime the film is advanced to present to the sensing station a diiierentincremental area of the film record where one or more of the controlspots may appear upon the film record. The different control spots aredisposed in the proper position in each individual frame of the filmrecord so as to maintain the timing arrangement described between thesaid areas where control spots may appear on the film and the cam member23?. The purpose of the cam controlled contacts will be understood asthe description progresses. In addition, it should be stated thatcontrol contacts C2 are provided and suitably disposed so as to beoperated by the control lever 238. According to theinstant arrangementthe said lever is arranged to maintain the contacts C2 'closed as longas the film record is advanced past the lever. In the event of breakageof the film or that the film supply is exhausted, the said lever is theneffective to swing out into the plane normally occupied by the film topermit' the contacts C2 to be opened.

Data accumulating means The data accumulating means (Fig. 3) to bedescribed is operated in synchronism with the film advancing means bymeans of the gear 240, secured to the shaft 24!, engaging the maindriving connections designated 2l8. Shaft 24!, therefore, is rotatedcontinuously as long as motor 2!! is operated, and in timed relationshipwith the rotation of shafts 220 and 22! (Fig. 2).

The continuously rotated shaft 24! has slidably mounted thereon butkeyed for rotation therewith a plurality of clutch elements 242, therebeing one for each denominational order The element 242 is provided witha groove in which fits the end of an arm 243 of a suitably pivoted lever'244. The said lever is normally held in the position shown by armature245 of the. control magnet 2l3. Upon energiza'tion of the control magnetthe associated armature is attracted thereto, thereby releasing thelever 244 which is positioned by the leaf spring 242a to cause. theclutch element 242 to move into engagement with cooperating teeth 24!integral with a gear 248 loosely mounted on shaft 24!. Gear 248, whenthus coupled to shaft 24!, will rotate a gear 249 which meshes therewithand displace the associated accumulator index wheel 250. Also driven bygear248 is a gear 25! which is displaced in the same manner as indexwheel 250. The ratio of gears 249 and 25! is one to two so that thelatter will turn through half a revolution for each revolution of theformer gear. Carried by and insulated from gear 25! is a pair ofelectrically connected brushes 252, one of which cooperates successivelywith the conducting segments 253 while the other cooperates with anarcuate conducting strip 254. The relationship of the parts is suchthat, when the index wheel 250 is in its zero position, one of thebrushes 252 is in contact with the zero segment and the other brush isincontact with the conducting strip, thus forming an electrical connectionbetween the two. The positioning of the said brushes provides aconvenient electrical readout mechanism for controlling total printingoperations and the electrical circuits involved in these operations willbe more fully explained in connection with the circuit diagram.

It is to be understood that the control magnets 2 l 3 may be energizedat various points in the cycle of the machine, depending upon thedisposition of the control spots upon the film detected by the sensingmeans. This energization may take place in response to the detection ofa control spot in any of the index point positions represented by theaccumulator. The control spots are disposed on each frame of the film insuch a manner, and the film advancing means and accumulator are operatedin such timed relationship that, for example. a control spot sensed inthe 9 position, indicated on the film, will cause the clutch element 242to be tripped to position the index wheel 252 and brushes 252 nine stepsbefore a declutching operation is effected by the control elements ofthe machine, and the sensing of a control spot in the 1 position willcause the clutch element to be tripped to position the said index wheeland brushes one step before declutching thereof. For further detaileddescription of the accumulating mechanism reference should be made tothe said U. S. Patent No. 1,976,617 and wherein such well knownaccumulator operations, as denominational order transfer, restoration ofthe clutch elements and magnet armatures to normal position andresetting of the accumulator mechanism, are specifically described.

The resetting mechanism is shown diagrammatically to comprise a resetclutch magnet 255, normally deenergized. thereby positioning the stoplever 256, secured to the magnet armature 251, to engage the extensionfinger of the pivoted dog member 25 disposed on gear 259. The said gearis loosely mounted on the continuously rotated shaft 268 to which issecured a clutch member 26!, so that upon energization of the resetclutch magnet the said dog member is released to engage the rotatingclutch member thus rotating the gear 259 in unison therewith. By meansof the driving connections designated 2B2, shaft 263 is rotated to resetthe individual index wheels 250 to the normal zero position in a mannerwell known and described in detail in the said last mentioned patent.Control cams 264, 264--a and 265 are secured to shaft 263 and rotatedthereby to operate the suitably disposed contacts RCI, RC-2 and 30-3 forvarious control purposes to be described hereinafter.

Data printing means The printing or listing unit (Fig. 4) comprises aprinting control cam 218 secured to the sleeve 21! rotatably supportedby the shaft 24I which is rotated in synchronism with the film recordfeed mechanism making one revolution for each individual frame fed andanalyzed, whenever the list clutch magnet 212 is energized to releasethe pivoted dog member 213, supported by member 214 which is secured tosleeve 21!, to engage the clutch member 215 secured to shaft 2M andcontinuously rotated thereby rotating the printing cam in unison withthe shaft 24 I.

The member 216 is shown to cooperate with and be actuated by a camgroove in the printing cam so that the printing bail or member 211 iseffective to impart an upward movement to the typebars 218 by means ofthe resilient connections such as springs 219 between the typebars andthe printing ball. The typebars are provided with a plurality of ratchetteeth 288 which cooperate with stopping pawls 284 so that the typebarsmay be interrupted at various positions to present any of their typeelements 282 to the printing platen 283 for cooperation therewith.

By virtue of the said spring connections, the typebars may beinterrupted without interfering with the upward movement of the printingbail which has an invariable extent of movement controlled by theprinting cam. Energization of any one of the control magnets 2l4 iseffective to rock the spring-pressed pivoted latch 284 releasing theassociated pawl 28l so that it may swing into engagement with teeth 280and interrupt the further upward movement of the corresponding typebar218. The energization of the printing control magnets may be controlleddirectly by the sensing means upon detection of the control spots on thefilm record, and due to the synchronization of the typebar travel withthe passage of the control spots by the sensing station will present thetype elements 282, corresponding to the data control spots, in printingposition.

Associated with each typebar 218 is a printing hammer 285 which isadapted to be positioned to strike the type elements 282 which are nowin printing position to effect printing therefrom. The printing hammersare adapted to be actuated immediately after the positioning of themember 216 to the upper extremity of its movement. The detailedoperation of the printing mechanism just described is well known andalso is completely described in the said last mentioned patent, so thatfurther disclosure of the mechanism is deemed unnecessary.

It should be mentioned at this time that control. cams 285 and 281 areprovided and secured to, sleeve 21! to operate the suitably disposedcontrolled contacts LC--| and LC2 respectively. Also, carried by theextremity of the sleeve 211 andinsulated therefrom are pairs ofelectrically connected brushes 288, one brush of which engages theconducting segments 289 while the other engages a common arcuateconducting strip 280. The timing is such that a brush 288 successivelyengages each of the segments 289 as a corresponding type element 282approaches the printing position opposite platen 283. These contactdevices, generally known as total printing emitters," control the totalprinting circuits in a manner to be more fully explained hereinafter. Itis to be noted, during the description to follow, that the mentioned LCcontacts and emitter are operated only during printing operations.

Data storing means Referring now to Fig. 7 the data storing means willbe described. The driving connections 219 are effective to rotate theassociated gear 315 and shaft 3H5 whenever the film feeding mecha nismis rendered operative. The said shaft is driven at a definite raterelative to the movement of the film record and carries cycle wheels 3",which are secured thereto (on for each desired row or column of controlrepresentations), having two sets of notches, each corresponding to thepositions for the control representations in any given row or column ofthe film record, and these wheels make one complete revolution duringthe period required to advance two consecutive frames or sets of controlrepresentations past the sensing station. The D" position of the wheels3!? is shown in Fig. 7. 1

On the shaft 3l6 are loosely mounted three arms 3l8, 3!!! and 320 toeach of which is pivoted a. spring actuated dog 32!, 322 and 323, oneend of which fits into any one of the notches in the wheel 3H, and theother to project radially outward. along the arm, and assuming, for themoment, that dog 32! in engagement with a notch in the wheel has beenbrought by the movement of the latter into engagement with the lever 324while in its latched position, it is upset or thrown out of engagementwith said wheel and stops in the position indicated in Fig. '7.

The movement of the parts is so timed that at the time a controlrepresentation of a given value is passing the sensing station to effectenerglzation of the magnets 325, a notch in wheel 3!? of correspondingvalue will be under the dog 32!. The energization of said magnet will,therefore, permit the engagement of the dog with the notch in the wheel3!! which corresponds in value to the then passing controlrepresentation on the film record. If no control representation in agiven row or column is on the film record, the K notch will be engagedby the dog under conditions to be hereinafter referred to. Afterengagement, the arm 3i8 is carried in the direction shown by the arrowand moving in unison with the wheel.

A cam wheel 326 is constantly rotated by suitable gearing (not shown)which may be cooperating with gear 3l5, and it has a number of teeth orpoints which knock back the lever 324 and relatch it before the nextnotch has come into position and before certain contacts D'! and E-!,are operated. These contacts are operated by dogs 320-322 at differenttimes during the machine .cycle, depending upon which notches areengaged by the said dogs. The contacts are operated at the same instantin the cycle, by one of the dogs, that the correspondingly numberedindex point position on the film record is passing the sensing station.For example, the dog 322 engaging notch 4 is effective to causeoperation of the said contacts at the 4 index point position of thecycle. at which time the 4 index point positions on the film record arepassing the sensing station.

Following the locked do in its travel with the wheel 3", it reaches at agiven time the contacts D-! and E-! and the end of the arm 3!3 engages alever 321, operating these contacts, namely, closing contacts D-! andopening contactsE t The said arm being still locked by its dog,continues its movement to the point in which dog 323 is shown, where itencounters a latch lever 328 and is thrown out of engagement with thewheel 351. Here it rests until a cam 329, revolved by suitable gearingin the machine unlatches lever 328 and allows the dog to engage with anS notch in the wheel 3!! by which it is carried on to the starting pointwhere it is again unlocked by the lever 324.

Considering now the other arms 3H! and 32!! and their dog 322 and 323,each one goes through the same operations as described, butsuccessively, that is to say, while dog 32B is unlocked and stationary,the arm 3|9 is being carried down to the contacts D--! and E-!, and thedog 323 is being carried up to the latch 328, where it will rest untilthe S notch on the wheel comes under it, when it is tripped by the cam329. Associated with the levers 323 and 328 are lock latches 330 whichengage the arms after they have been freed from the wheel and preventany backward movement of the same.

If no control spots were sensed in a given row or column, thecorresponding magnet 325 would not be energized, and under theseconditions, the uppermost dog 32i must be released to engage the Knotch. This is effected by knockoff cam 33! rotated, by suitablegearing, so that the high point engages the latch lever 332 andwithdraws it from engagement with the lever 32d, once near the end ofeach cycle.

The cams 326, 329, and 33! referred to are driven by suitable gearing,which, in turn, can be driven by gear 3i5 (Fig. 2), or by a similar gearsecured to shaft 3H5. The relative timing of the cams with respect tothe operation of the wheels 3!! and associated dogs 32! to 323 is setforth hereinabove.

Operation of the machine Referring now to Figs. 10 and 10a (arranged asshown in Fig. 9), the different control circuits established by theanalyzation of the controlling film record will be explained. Assumingthat the film record has been positioned in the film advancing mechanismand also has been positioned in proper frame alignment, the lineswitches 30!! are then closed to complete circuits to the drive motor 2Hand the light source 2H3. Operation of the motor causes the variousdriving connections to rotate as described hereinabove. When the machineis in the normal D position (see Fig. 11) no conti 01 spots are presentat the sensing station; therefore, the rays of light directed to theapertures in the guide plates 225 are conducted by the quartz rods tothe associated light responsive cells 2 ii to activate them, controllingthe amplifying units 2!2 so as to be conductive assuming that the properpotentials are applied to the control elements of the amplifying units).

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, the operation of the amplifying unitswill be described. When no light rays are impinging on the lightresponsive cell 2! i '(and contacts E-! are closed), the battery 3!)! iseffective to bias the control grid element 302 so as to be at a negativepotential with respect to the cathode element 303 to such a degree (seepoint C on the characteristic curve shown in Fig. 6) that substantiallyno current is flowing in the circuit connected to the anode element 304including the relay coils A--! and B-!. Underthese conditions the relaysA--! and B-! are not energized effectively to operate the associatedcontacts. It is realized now that whenever control spots are presentedto the sensing station to interrupt the light rays, that is, to preventthe light rays to impinge on the related light responsive means 2, thedescribed condition is created, namely, the flow of plate current in theoutputcircuit of the related amplifying unit is reduced to such anextent that relays A--! and B--! are not energized effectively. However,when the light rays are not intercepted by control spots and arepermitted to impinge on the light responsive cells, in each associatedamplifying unit, the bias on the grid element is reduced, that is, thegrid element is rendered positive with respect to the cathode, therebypermitting suflicient plate current to flow in the output circuit toeffectively energize both relay coils A-I and 3-4, thus operating thecontacts associated with said relays; the value of plate current flowingin the circuit under the last mentioned conditions is in excess of thevalue shown at point A on the curve in Fig. 6.

Until now, it was unnecessary to mention that the relays A-l and Bl aremarginal relays and that relay A-l operates only when the current valuein the circuit exceeds the value A (Fig. 6) and that relay Bl operateswhenever the current value in the circuit exceeds the value B. It shouldbe mentioned that contacts E-l of the data storing means (Fig. '7) areconnected in the grid bias circuit arrangement at all times by the plugconnections as shown, and that when the said contacts are opened, thenegative bias is removed from the grid element. Therefore, it is seenthat in the event the light rays are intercepted so as not to impinge onthe light responsive cell 2%! and contacts El are caused to be opened atexactly the same time interval, the grid potential is reduced tosubstantially a zero value, and thereby causing current flow in theoutput circuit equivalent in value to that designated in Fig. 6 by theintersection of the ordinate EG= and the characteristic curve, the valueof which is in excess of B but less than A, thus effectively energizingrelay B--| only and not relay A-l. However, if light rays impinge oncell 2H and contacts E--l are conditioned to be either opened or closedat such times, the value of the current flow in the output circuit is inexcess of A. thus effectively energizing both relays A-i and B-l.

Now. assume that the start key is operated to close the associatedcontacts 305 (Fig. to complete a circuit as follows: From one terminalof the supply source via conductor 396 through normally closed contacts301 of the stop key. contacts 305. common conductor 308 through (1) thecoil of relay Rl to the other terminal of the supply source viaconductor 309. energizing said relay; 2) the normally closed contactsR,--6a through the film record advancing clutch ductor 309.

magnet 229 to conductor 309, energizing said magnet. and (3) thenormally closed contacts Rr2b, and R-da through the list control clutchmagnet 212 to conductor 309, energizing said magnet. Energization ofrelay R! is effective to close the contacts R-la and open the contactsRlb; closing of contacts R-la establishes a holding circuit for relayR-I and control magnets 229 and 212 through the normally closed contacts307 of the stop key and the film controlled contacts C-2 now closed andsaid contacts R--Ia. Energization of the film advancing clutch magnet iseffective to release the dog member 232 thereby causing the shafts 220and HI to rotate and advance the control spots on the film record to thesensing station. Film feeding continues as long as the said controlmagnet 229 remains energized. Energization of the list clutch magnet 212is effective to release the control dog member 273 to rotate theprinting cam 21!! and operate the associated mechanism as long as thesaid list magnet remains energized. However, with switch 3M1 positionedas shown, and upon closure of contacts FC2, near the end of the cycle,coil of relay R- l is energized, causing contacts E-da to open, therebyopening the described circuit to the list clutch magnet 212. and causingcontacts 12.-42) to close to establish a holding circuit for the saidrelay, as follows: conductor 306, contacts fir-6b and R-tb, switch 340to coil of relay RF- l and con- The opening of the R-lb contactsprevents conditioning any circuits to effect resetting of theaccumulator by operation of manually operated reset key, while the filmadvancing and printing means are operating.

Now that the machine is conditioned, as described, to render operativethe various'drlving' connections, the film feeding mechanism iseffective to advance the differentially positioned control spotsdisposed on the film record to the sensing station for analyzation, andalso, at the same time, the described driving connections are operatedin synchronism with the film feeding means, so that upon conditioning ofthe control circuits, by the detection of the control spots, the senseddata are stored in the data storing means, for a machine cycle, whichthen, in turn, is effective to control the operations of the saidaccumulating and printing means at differential times to accumulateand/or print the data in accordance with the data designations sensed.

Upon presentation of the data designations to the sensing station, thelight rays influencing the corresponding light responsive cells areintercepted or blocked so that the said cells 2 are effective at thistime to condition the associated amplifying units 242 to besubstantially non-conductive, or in effect, the plate current flowing inthe output circuit is reduced to such a degree that the normallyeffectively energized relay coils included in the said circuits are notsufficiently energized to maintain the associated contacts in an opencondition, Whenever the said relay coils are effectively energized,(this condition exists during the sensing period of the cycle wheneverno control spots are presented to the sensing station) the contactscontrolled thereby are opened. Therefore, upon starting the machineoperations relay coils A-I to A-B and B-l to B-6 included in part of therepresentative machine control circuits are effectively energized toopen the associated control contacts.

Assume now, that the circuit diagram shown in Figs. 10 and 10a, isconnected as shown in Fig. 12. With the machine connected in thismanner, it will be shown that the amount data sensed on the records areaccumulated as long as the classification data thereof are similar; andthat, upon a change in classification data, film feeding operations areinterrupted, whereupon total taking operations are automaticallyeffected, followed by an automatic accumulator resetting operation, andresumption of the film feeding operations; and, that upon a group changei. e, a change in classification data on successive records), theclassification data of each group of records are printed accordingly. Inorder to simplify the description, assume, that the data to beaccumulated are represented by the control spots effective to conditionthe circuits includingrelays A-I to 3 and B-l to 3, and that theclassification data are represented by the control spots effective tocondition the circuits including relays A4 to 5 and B4 to 6.

Upon presentation of the first record to the sensing station, the relaysA-l to 6 and Bl to 6 are not effectively energized at the differentialtimes the control spots, representing the amount and classificationdata, are sensed, thereby causing the related contacts A--la to 6a, andB-|a to Ba. to be closed.

Closures of contacts A-la to Sc, cause circuits to be completed to theconnected control magnets 325, of the data storing means, at the saiddifferential times, causing the said dogs 321-323 to be released andengage the notches on the wheels 3", thereby storing the sensed data,for a machine cycle. The circuits referred to can be traced fromconductor 306 to cam controlled contacts C-i, contacts A-la to Go, andby means of the indicated plug connections to the said control magnets325, and conductor 309.

It is assumed, at this moment, that no previous data has been stored inthe said data storing means. Closures of contacts 3-40 to 6d cause therelay R-B to be energized, and these circuits can be traced fromconductor 306 to contacts FCI, contacts B-4a to Go, the indicated plugconnections to coil of relay R-6, and conductor 309, causing thecontacts lip-6c and R-6b to open, and contacts R,-6c and RP-Bd to close.A holding circuit is established for this relay by means of the normallyclosed contacts RC-2 and the said contacts R-Gd, which is maintaineduntil near the end of a reset cycle, when the said contacts RC--2 areopened. Opening of the contacts R--6a prevents further film feedingoperations, since these contacts maintain magnet 229 deenergized.Opening of contacts R,6b breaks the holding circuit to relay R-4 todeenergize the said relay, thus'permitting the magnet 212 to beenergized through contacts R-4a to render the printing mechanismvoperative at the end of the cycle.

At the beginning of the following cycle, a total taking operation iseffected through the now closed contacts Rr--6C, contacts (RC-4),emitter device 288-a and read-out device 252-a to energize the printingcontrol magnets 2M to effect positioning of the typebars in accordancewith the setting of the accumulator read-out device. An automaticresetting operation is then effected in the next cycle by means of thecircuit conditioned by the LC| contacts during the total taking cycle,namely, conductor 306, contacts R-Gc, LC-l, R-Jb and coil of magnet 255to conductor 309, to energize said magnet, which is effective to controlthe rotation of the reset shaft 263. During the reset cycle, (1)contacts RC-3 are opened to prevent any circuit to be completed throughthe emitter device 288-(1, (2) contacts RC2 are opened near the end ofthe cycle to deenergize relay R-6, and 3) contacts 'RC-l are closed toenergize relay R-l to prevent further operation of the reset mechanismat the end of the cycle (for example, by depression of the reset key).

Deenergization of relay R6 now permits magnet 229 to be energizedthrough contacts R- -fia so that at the end of the reset cycle, filmfeeding operations are effected. During the cycle immediately followingthe reset cycle, the accumlating mechanism and printing mechanism areoperated in accordance with the data stored in the cyclewheels. i

Now, upon resumption of the film feeding operations, the-rotation of thecycle wheels 3!! is also resumed. Therefore, during this cycle the D andE contacts are operated at differential times in accordance with thesettings of the tripped dogs, It is recalled that the stored datacorresponds to the data sensed on the first record. Consequently, theclosures of the Di to 13-3 contacts causes the control magnets 213 ofthe accumulator to be energized at differential times in accordance withthe stored data. thereby effecting entries of this data therein, Thesecircuits can be traced from conductor 3% to cum controlled contacts C-l,said contacts D! to- D--3, plug connections as indicated to the controlmagnets 2|3, and conductor 309. Similar control circuits are establishedto energize the control magnets 2M of the printing unit upon closure ofthe contacts 13-4 to D6. In this manner, the amount data of the firstrecord are entered into the accumulator, and the classification datathereof are recorded by the printing unit.

Also, upon resumption of the film feeding operations, the lightresponsive cells 2H are conditioned in accordance with the datadesignating control spots presented to the sensing station to effect theclosures of the contacts A-la to A-6a, accordingly, to control theoperations of the data storing means as described.

It was mentioned, that the E contacts of the data storing means areconnected, by means of the indicated plug connections, in the inputcircuits of the amplifying units 2l2. Therefore, as long as theclassification data sensed on the records are in agreement with theclassification 'data stored in the storing means, the contacts E-4 toE-6, controlled thereby, are opened at the same timed intervals thatlight is prevented from reaching the related cells 21 i by the sensedcontrol spots representing the classification data.

Under these conditions, the input circuits of the related amplifyingunits 2l2 are jointly controlled by the cells 2 II and the E-4 to E--6contacts, so that the values of the current flow in the associatedoutput circuits are in excess of the value, indicated at B in Fig. 6. Itis recalled, that when the said input circuits are controlledaccordingly, the current in relays A-4 to A-S is reduced to a pointwhich permits their contacts to close, while the B-4 to B6 relays remaineffectively energized. Due to the closures of the said A-t to 6 contactsthe data storing means is controlled, as described, to set up and storethe sensed classification data, and due to the energization of the saidB--4 to 6 relays, the relay R-ii remains deenergized. Thus, as long asthe classification data on successive records are in agreement, thefilm-feeding operations are continued, and the data sensed on therecords, are entered. a cycle later, in the said accumulating means.

Near the end of the first cycle following the total taking and resetcycles, upon resumption of the film feeding operations, the FC2 contactsare closed to effect energization of relay R-4, as describedhereinabove. Opening of the contacts R--4a prevents energization of thecontrol magnet 212, so that, as long as the classification data are inagreement, further printing operations are suppressed, even though theprinting magnets are energized by the contacts D-4 to 6.

The operations just described continue until a change in theclasification data occurs, whereupon certain or all of the relays 3-4 to6 are deenergized, during the sensing operations, as mentionedhereinbefore, to effect energization of the relay R-6, and establish aholding circuit therefor, by means of the contacts RC-Z and R-Sd untilcompletion of the said resetting oper ations. Due to the operation ofrelay R--6, further film feeding operations are suppressed, and thetotal taking and resetting operations are initiated as describedhereinbefore. Upon completion of these operations, film feedingoperations are resumed precisely in the manner as set forth in theforegoing description. For examples of other types of control operationswhich can be exercised, by the system described hereinabove, referenceshould'be made to the aforementioned copending application.

The usual manually operated keys and associated control circuits forinitiating either total taking or resetting operations, or both, areprovided, in the event, it is desired to effect such operations duringthe normal machine operations. The operations of these control circuitsare well known, therefore, it is deemed that the following briefdescription I is sufficient upon manual operation of the total key, thecontacts 3t l are closed to establish a circuit through contacts Rr--3ato energize relay R,-2. and causing the associated contacts R2a to beclosed to effect energization of the printing control magnet 212, asdescribed hereinabove. Printing operations are effected, which arefollowed by a resetting operation, which operations are under thecontrol of the circuits traced in detail hercinabove. Upon manualoperation of the reset key, the contacts 3H are closed to establish acircuit from conductor 306 to said contacts 3H], contacts RIb and R7b tocoil of magnet 255 and conductor 3B9, energizing said magnet to eifect aresetting operation. During this resetting operation, contacts RCI areclosed to effect energization of relay P,! causing contacts R'la toclose and contacts R1b to open. Opening of contacts Rlb cause the magnet255 to be deenergized, thus preventing further resetting operations tobe executed, in the event the reset key is held depressed for aprolonged time. Thus, it is seen that depression of the reset key for aprolonged period merely maintains a circuit from conductor 306 tocontacts 3H], contacts R--ib, contacts R-la to relay R.'! and conductor309. Upon release of the reset key the described circuit to relay 12-1is broken.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamentalnovel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, itwill be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changesin the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operationmay be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from thespirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limitedonly as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a sensing station, means forfeeding thereto controlling elements having groups of classificationdata representations disposed thereon, means at the sensing station forsensing successively the groups of da a representation, set-up devicesand control means therefor, under control of the sensing means, forsetting up successively the data represented on the controlling elementsand presented to the sensing station, circuit control means operated bythe said set-up devices, in accordance with the settings derived fromone cont-rolling element, at a time when the following controllingelement is being sensed, electron discharge means having input andoutput circuits, circuit means controlled jointly by the sensing meansand said circuit control means for influencing the said input circuitand controlling selectively the conductivity of the said discharge meansin accordance with the agreement or disagreement of the datarepresentations sensed on the said following controlling element at thesensing station and the data set up in the set-up devices, control meansin the said output circuit selectively controlled by the said dischargemeans, and means controlled by the said control means for controllingthe interruption of the normal feeding operations if the data sensed onthe controlling elemcnt are unlike the data of the previous controllingelement set up in the set-up devices, said last mentioned meansrendering the feeding means effective to continue the feeding operationsif the sensed data and the set-up data correspond.

2. The invention described in claim 1 in which the said sensing meanscomprises a source of light rays and light responsive means controlledby the light rays modified by the data respresentations.

3. In a machine of the class described, means for feeding controllingelements having groups of classification data representations disposedthereon, means for sensing successively the groups of datarepresentations, set-up devices having means controlled by the sensingmeans for setting up successively the data represented on the sensedcontrolling elements, circuit control means operated by the said set-updevices, in accordance with the settings derived from one controllingelement, at a time when the following controlling element is beingsensed, electron discharge means having input and output circuits, acontrol grid included in the input circuit, circuit means controlledjointly by the sensing means and said circuit control means forimpressing selectively predetermined bias conditions on the said controlgrid to control selectively the conductivity of the said discharge meansin accordance with the agreement or disagreement of the-datarepresentations sensed on the said following controlling element and thedata set up in the set-up devices, control means in the output circuitselectively controlled by the discharge means in accordance with thepredetermined bias conditions impressed upon the grid thereof, and meanscontrolled by the said control means for controlling the interruption ofthe feeding operations of the feeding means if the data sensed andset-up data are unlike and for rendering the feeding means effective tocontinue the feed ing operations if the sensed data and set-up datacorrespond. I

4. In a machine of the class described, means for successively feedingrecords bearing classification data designations, means for sensing thesaid designations on the records, data storing means having meanscontrolled by the sensing means for storing successively the data sensedon said records, circuit control means operated by the said storingmeans, in accordance with the stored data derived from one record, at atime when the following record is being sensed, electron discharge meanshaving input and output circuits, circuit means controlled jointly bythe data sensing means and said circuit control means for controllingselectively the input circuit of the said discharge means in accordancewith the agreement or disagreement of the data designations sensed onthe said following record by the said sensing means and the data storedin'the said storing means, thereby selectively controlling theconductivity of the electron discharge means, and means in the outputcircuit selectively controlled by the conductivity of the said dischargemeans in accordance with the agreement or disagreement of the sensed andstored data.

JAMES W. BRYCE.

